The Pogues, Badly Drawn Boy, & Frank Turner, for Strummer of Love

plus many more to commemorate the Clash frontman

By Scott Williams | Published: Wed 18th Apr 2012

The Pogues

Friday 17th to Sunday 19th August 2012
secret location in Somerset, England
£175 weekend pass, or £50 for day tickets
Daily capacity: 5,000
Last updated: Thu 9th Aug 2012

The Pogues, Badly Drawn Boy, and Frank Turner lead the line-up announced for Strummer of Love, a one-off festival for 5,000 to commemorate the late Joe Strummer has been unveiled. The event, held at a secret location in the middle of the Somerset countryside over the weekend of Friday 17th to Sunday 19th August, will mark the 10th anniversary of the death of Strummer, the legendary Clash frontman.

The Pogues
The line-up also includes Roots Manuva, Basement Jaxx (DJ set), Billy Bragg, KT Tunstall, Alabama 3, Don Letts, Dreadzone, Emmy the Great, Reverend And The Makers, Mr C, David Rodigan, Kitty Daisy & Lewis, Slow Club, Dog Is Dead, Dub Pistols, Man Like Me (live), Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly, Bastille, The Whip, Joshua Moses, Fionn Regan, The Jim Jones Revue, Crazy P, Channel One Soundsystem, Talisman, Fit Les, Hollie Cook, Time and Space Machine, Josh Kumra, Ska Levin, Kate Tempest, Yob, Luca C & Brigante, Guy Williams, Parma Violets, Matices Latinos, Dark Moon, Atlantics, The Validators, The Joker & The Thief, The Supernovas, Beans on Toast, and Benjamin Folke Thomas, with more special guest to be announced.

The line-up will comprise of friends and fans of Joe's paying respect to the influence that he has had on their lives and music. Internationally renowned artists are joined by a host of rising stars, many of them supported by the work of Strummerville.

Charity Director Trish Whelan said, "It's very exciting for us to be presenting this special one-off event to mark Joe's 10th anniversary. We really felt a festival was the most fitting tribute and have been blessed with an incredibly positive reaction from so many great artists. The site is truly beautiful and we will be burning our big campfire from Thursday to Sunday. Also, handling all the ticket sales ourselves in true Strummer DIY fashion felt important - so no big booking fees. We look forward to seeing you all in the fields!"

There will be two main stages, one outdoor and one inside a huge marquee. Bunting and flags will be flyings all round the festival site. All bars will be reasonably priced and where possible all food outlets will use ethically sourced ingredients.

For the kids there will be an area dedicated to them, with activities to amuse them when their not on your shoulders listening to your favourite bands (ear protection will be available on site)

Festival goers can also expect stalls selling ethically sourced fair trade food and outlets highlighting a range of arts, crafts, Strummer memorabilia, alternative therapies, healing and community activism, a communal eating area, lots of space to camp and a patrolled car park, over looking the site.

Topping all of this off will be Joe’s favourite meeting place - a constantly burning campfire.

The first 1,001 tickets will be made available on Wednesday 11th April at a special price of £101 in honour of Strummer's first band, The 101ers. A car parking ticket is priced at £10, and a live-in vehicle ticket is priced at £60.To buy tickets, click here.

Strummer was a tireless community activist and remains a powerful and inspirational force whose art, convictions and energy spans the decades and unites generations.

In honour of Strummer's world views proceeds from the festival will benefit the work of Strummerville: The Joe Strummer New Music Foundation, which was set up in the singer's memory by his friends and family following his untimely death.

Since its 2003 inception Strummerville has stayed true to Joe's reputation as a rallying point and motivational icon by driving a host of projects that provide invaluable opportunities for musical creativity to thrive.

Strummerville's work comes in many forms, from helping bands to record and release music to providing rehearsal spaces for aspiring artists. Strummerville studios can be found at the roundhouse and under the Westway in London, in Belfast and in Bogotá. The main aim of the charity is to give opportunities to people through music who wouldn't usually have access to such opportunities.

around the festival site (Strummerville)


Latest Updates

Strummer of Love
festival home page
last updated: Mon 14th Mar 2016
Strummer of Love 2012
photo galleries
last updated: Wed 22nd Aug 2012